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A6 S6 
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NSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE 
APPLE-TREE: 



SUGGESTIONS AS TO THEIR CONTROL OR 
EXTERMINATION. 



PREPARED BY 



JAMES M. SOUTHWICK, 

v « 

CURATOR, MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, ROGER WILLIAMS PARK, PROVIDENCE I 
ENTOMOLOGIST, RHODE ISLAND STATE BOARD Or AGRICULTURE. 



ISSUED BY 

GEO. A. STOCKWELL, 

SECRETART RHODE ISLAND STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



PROVIDENCE : 

E, L, FREEMAN & spNS, PRINTERS TO THE STATE. 
1900, 



o 

H 






SBkos 



PREFATORY NOTE. 



There is no fruit cultivated in Rhode Island so generally useful and sat- 
isfactory as the apple. Yet from lack of knowledge, or by neglect, a large 
percentage of each crop is wasted, and at least one-third of the fruit 
offered for sale is wormy, and its money value seriously reduced. 

The first general principle for improvement of these conditions is clean 
cultivation, embracing careful pruning and covering the scars with suita- 
ble paint to prevent the entrance of insects and water. The cutting down 
of trees badly infested with vermin, and past usefulness, and prompt 
burning ; keeping the ground clean ; turning up the soil around the trees i<> 
bring bidden insect forms to the surface, where they are exposed to 
birds and extremes of beat and cold, are necessary to profitable cultivation. 

Good fertilization will also give to the trees strength to resist the attacks 
of parasites. The accompanying suggestions describe briefly certain 
species of insects thai a Rhode Island farmer may discover working in 
and about his trees, followed by a list of insecticides for beneficial appli- 
cation, and a mention of birds, toads, and insects that should be protected 
and encouraged to resort to the orchard. 

It has been demonstrated by the examination of their stomachs that 6 
per cent, of the total food of Massachusetts toads is rose beetles, 5 percent, 
w ire worms. Hi per cent, cut worms, 9 per cent, tent eaterpilars, and ."> per 
cent, curculios, with an aggregate of 80 per cent, of noxious insects In 
general. 

In the following list the words larva singular' and larva' plural apply 
to the forms commonly called caterpillars, grubs, and worms. 

For complete and accurate descriptions, read "Insects Injurious to 
Fruits," by William Saunders. F. U.S. c. ; "Half Hours with Insects," I>r. 
A. S. Packard, Jr.; "Injurious Insects of the Farm and Garden," Mary- 
Treat ; Bulletin 46, Natch Experiment Station, Amherst. Mass. ; to which 

publications the writer has frequently referred in preparing this paper. 

Further inquiries regarding insects and specimens for identification may 
be addressed to Mr. James M. Southwick. 21 \\ hitmarsh Street, Provi- 
dence, R. I. : or Museum of Natural History, Roger Williams Park, 
Providence, R. I. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE APPLE-TREE. 



BARMFUL BEETLES. 

TWo-sTriped Apple-tree Boreb saperda Candida). The larva is 
three-quarters inch long, white, with brown head. Girdles under the bark 
in the lower trunk, and even under ground. Adult, three-fourths inch 
long, creamy-striped, and with long horns. 

Beneficial factors. Woodpeckers. Wash the trunk with a paint made 

of soft-soap, thinned with a strong solutii t washing soda m water, 

during June and July, or wrap the trunk loosely with wire gauze or 
mosquito-netting from late April to September. Extract the larva with 
knife or wire. 

Spotted Boreb saperda cretata). Habits and appearance much like 
two-striped apple-tree borer. Rare in Rhode Island. 

Beneficial factors. -Treatment like two-striped apple-tree borer. A.p 
plied higher up onto the lower branches. 

Flat-headed Boreb crysobothris femorata). Larva, anterior end 
very large, straw-colored, and footless; in the trunk and low branches. 

Adult, halt an inch, dark green bronze. 

Beneficial factors. W Ipeckers, ants, ichneumon ilies. and the s<dt 

soap paint. < 'lean cultivation. 

Harris' Boreb {chrysobothris harrisii). A beetle similar to the Mat- 
headed borer, migrating from the maple to the apple-tree. 

Beneficial factors. Birds. Treatment as for two striped apple-tree 
borer. 

Prickly, Long-horned Boreb Leptostylus aculifer). Larva, straw 
colored body and dark head. Winding channels under the bark. Adult, 
one-third inch, brown-gray, and prickly. 

Beneficial factors. — Various birds, toads. Apply soap wash in early 
August. 



6 

Clyndrical Bark-borer (Tomicus malt). Not common. Larva, small, 
soft, :m<l white. Adult, one-tenth inch, chestnut brown with yellow legs. 
Beneficial factors.— Birds, toads. 

Apple-twig Borek {Amphicerus bicaudatus). A small, dark brown 
beetle, damaging nursery trees chiefly. 

Beneficia I factors. — Birds. Pruning and burning all bored twigs and 
their contents. 

Apple Liopus (liopus facetus). Branch and bark borer. Adult beetle, 
one-quarter inch, ash gray. Bather rare. 
Beneficial factors.- -Birds, and treatment as for apple-twig borer. 

Stag Beetle Lucanus dama). Large, whitesh larva, with red brown 
head. In the roots and trunk. Does little harm. 
Beneficial factors. — Birds, toads, soap washes. 

Eyed Elateb {Alaus oculatus). Larva in decayed wood, over two 
inches long. Beetle one and one-half inch, black-streaked and powdered 
with white. Has two la rye, velvety eye spots. Does little damage. 

I',i neficial factors. — Toads. 

Rouge Osmoderma [OsmocU rma scabra . White, fleshy larva, with red- 
dish head. Adult beetle, one inch. Hat and square purple black body, 
[nhabiting decayed wood. Does little damage. 

/;» neficial factors. — Toads. 

White-Lined Psenocertjs Psenocerus supernotatus). Larva, small. 

White, and footless, with yellow head. Boring in stems, usually, of cur- 
rant and grape. Beetle, cylindrical, with long horns, reddish brown. 
Plying in May. 
Beneficial factors.- Birds. Pruning. 

Broad-necked Prionus {PHonus laticollis). Larva, a large, fleshy 
grub, at the roots. Adult, one to two inches, black, with long, jointed 
horns. 

Beneficial factors. — Birds, toads. 

Bi mi'.i.k Flower-beetle {Euphoria inda). A woolly, yellow brown, 
black-spotted beetle, three-quarters inch. Eating some fruit in Septem- 
ber. Hoes little harm. 

Beneficial factors. — Birds. 



Oak-Pruneb {Elaphidion villosum). Larva, three-quarters inch, yellow- 
ish white, black and brown head, boring small branches, causing them to 
fall. Adult beetle, dull gray, small, with long horns. 

Beneficial factors. — Birds. Gather the fallen branches and burn them. 

Snout Beetles, Weevils, Curculios. Larvae, small, soft, and white, 
with no feet. Feeding in fruit, and changing under ground. Beetles, 
small, dull grays and browns, with long snout to push their eggs into the 
fruit. 

Beneficial factors. — Birds, toads. Paris green sprays on the early foliage, 
jarring the beetles onto a sheet, all the more useful if wet with kerosene. 
Destroy promply all fallen fruit. 

Leaf Beetle Odontata rubra . Larva bores in the leaf, forming 
blotches. Adult, reddish, one-fifth inch. Does little damage. 
Beneficial /actors.— Birds, toads. 

Rose Beetle > Macrodactylus subspinosus . This yellowish drab beetle 

is well known, attacking the rose ami grape. Eggs and larva' all under 
ground. 

Beneficial factors. — Birds, toads, jarring the trees, spading up. and hoi 
water on the ground. 

Cloaked Chrysomela (Glyptocelis crypticus). A stout, clyndrical, ash 
gray beetle, one-third inch long, eating leaves in May and June. 
Beneficial factors. — Birds, toads. Paris green sprays. 

LICK. 

W'moi.i.n Louse (Schizoneura ia,,'nj<,-a . Sucking juice from the barb 
and roots. 

Beneficial factors. Birds, spiders, several Hies, the lady-bird beetles, and 
their larva'. Hot soap-suds or hot water poui.-d on the roots. Carbon 
disulphide at the roots. Kerosene emulsion sprays on the branches. 

Oyster-Shell Bare Louse {Mytilaspis pomorum) and 

Scurfv Bare Louse Chionaspis furfurus). 

Beneficial factors.— Birds, a species of mite, lady-bird beetles, and their 
larva'. Spray with kerosene emulsions. Scrape off and burn dead bark. 
Whitewashing. 



8 

Apple-tree Aphis (aphis malifolice). White or yellow green Louse, 
sucking the juice of the leaves. 

Beneficial factors. All small birds, lady-bird beetles, and their larva', 
lace-winged, golden-eyed Hies. Scrape off and burn dead bark, spray 
with kerosene emulsions. 

Tree Eoppers. Do very little damage. 



MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 

Tent Caterpillak (Clisiocampa americana). 

Beneficial factors. Orioles, cuckoos, ichneumon flies, and a mite. The 
copper spot beetle, or fiery searcher (Calosoma calidum), and the bronze 
and green searcher [Calosoma scrutator). They both eat all sorts of larvae. 
Wipe down the nests or burn them out early in the morning or just before 
dusk. Destroy in June and early .Inly, the silky, yellowish, oval cocoons, 
simn in out-houses, under fence-rails and clapboards. 

Forest Tent Caterpillar (Clisiocampa sylvatica). Eating the leaves 
in May and June. 

I'„ neficial factors. The natural enemies are about the same as those of 
t he tent caterpillar. As additional remedy, tie burlap or cloth a foot wide 
around the trees, bend it over at the top. and keep the underside sticky 
with tar or printing ink. 

Tussock Moth (Notholophus leucostigma). Larva very hairy, black, 
yellow, and white, with red head. Adult male an ashy gray moth; the 
female a whitish, hairy, wingless, gtub-like creature. 

Beneficial factors. — Various rlies, toads. Scrape out all the white silk 
and hairy cocoons from under fence-rails, clapboards, and the crevices in 
the bark of the trunk and lower limbs, and bum them. Spray Paris green, 
and wrap the unattacked trees to prevent the ascent of caterpillars. 

Canker-Worm Moths, spring brood, and fall brood. The larvae 
change under ground, and issue from October to December, and from 
March until May. 

Beneficial factors. — Birds, particularly the cedar waxwing, flies, wasps, 

a mite, and the assassin bugs. Bind the trees with burlap, as for the 
forest tent caterpillar, from October until June. Scrape off all loose 
bark anil burn it, then whitewash the trunk, adding a teaspoonful of 
Paris green to a pail of wash. 



Yellow-necked Caterpillar (Datana ministra). They swarm together 

and eat the leaves, and change under ground. 

Beneficial factors. — Toads and ichneumon Hit's. Crush them as they 
hang, or cut off the branches full of larva? and burn them. 

Red-humped Caterpillar (Oedemasia concinna). Hating the leaves, 
and changing on and under ground. 

Beneficial factors. — Jar them down onto a sheet, and treat also as the 
yellow-necked caterpillar. 

Fall Web Worm (Hyphantria canea). The moth is milk white. Spreads 
one inch. Hairy caterpillars, eat during June, July, and August. 

Beneficial factors. — Cuckoos, probably, and the spined soldier bug. Cut 
off and bum the branches and webs. 

Giant Silk-Worm {Samia cecropia). The large larva is green, with 
blue and red tubercles. Adult moth brown and red, spreading five to 
seven inches, 

Beneficial factors. — Birds, ichneumon Hies. Crush them by hand. 
Gather from small brandies and bushes the large brown cocoons, and 
burn them. 

American Silk-Worm [Telea polyphemus). Larva green, with gold side- 
bars. Adult spreads live inches, yellow brown, a transparent spot in each 
wing, a broad, black border around those in the bind wings. 

Beneficial factors. -Birds, ichneumon Hies, small rodents. Collect and 
burn the large cocoons that tall to the ground rolled up in a lea!'. 

Eyed Sphinx (Smerinthus excecatus). Larvseeal Leaves at nigbt. Larva, 
green, two and one-half inches, changes under ground Narrow-winged 

moth, three inch spread, upper wings fawn, bind wings rose color, with 
black spot and blue center. Does little barm. 
Beneficial factors. — Birds, ichneumon Hies, tall digging to expose the 

under ground Conn. 

Apple Sphinx {Sphinx gordius). Larva, apple green, with violet side- 
bars, two and one-half inches, changes under ground. Adult, gray, black, 
and brown, expands three inches. Does little harm. 

Beneficial factors.— Enemies and treatment the same as eyed sphinx. 

Lappet Moth {Tolypt velleda), Larva in June and .July, two inches, 



10 

blue gray, warty, and hairy: cocoon on the branches, of brown silk and 
hairs. Adult, two inches, blue gray and woolly. Does little harm. 
Beneficial factors. I J i ids, toads. 

Leaf Rollers. Two or three species of small caterpillars, developing 
into small moths. They silk the leaves together, eating them, as well as 
young fruit, during June, July, and August. They change within the 

folded leaves. 

Beneficial factors. — Birds, ichneumon (lies, Paris green sprays, and 

Crushing the folded leaves. 

l.i a i" Crtjmpler (Phycis indigenella). The larva in late summer ; one- 
half inch : head, red brown : body, green brown, silks the leaves onto the 
branches, and changes inside. 

Beneficial factors.- Ichneumon and tachina ilies. Burn the leaves off 
in the winter, or pick them by hand and hum them. 

Spotted l'>n> Moth Tmetocera ocellana). Larva, a naked brown cater- 
pillar, three-quarters inch, eating buds and young fruit ; lives in silk- 
lined (dusters of blackened leaves. Moth in July, half inch spread, ash 
gray and dusky hrown. 

Beneficial factors. — Birds. Take off, and crush or hum the leaf clusters 
and damaged fruit. 

Apple-bud Worm {Eccopsis malana). Larva, pale, pale green, with 

yellow head, black dotted ; eats and changes on the leaves and tips of 
branches in June, August, and September, Adult moth, small, mottled 
green hrown. with dusky hind wings. 

/;. neficial factors.— Birds, Paris green sprays, and hand cleaning. 

Many-dotted Apple Worm Tfolophunq malana). Larva, light green, 

white lined, and spotted ; eat from the under side of the leaves, changing 

inside the leaf. Moth, ash gray, spreads one inch, moderate damage. 
Beneficial factors.- Birds, Paris green sprays, and jarring onto a sheet 

wet with kerosene. 

Apple-leaf Sewee [Phoxopteris hammondi). Larva, yellow green, 
yellow head : feeds inside a leaf sewed together. Moth, white and hrown. 
/;. leficial factors. — Birds, (lather and burn leaves in the autumn. 

Leaf Skeletonizes {Pempelia hammondi). Larva, pale hrown. draws 
leaves together and changes within. Moths fly in May and dune; pur- 
plish may. with silver hands, oiiedialf inch, 



11 

Beneficial factors.— Ichneumon Hies, Paris green sprays, and hand 
picking. 

Palmeb Worm ( Ypsolophus pometellus). Larva, yellow green, striped 
body, with black dots, yellow head, and one-half inch long, eating in colo- 
nies, changes among the leaves, on hark, or on the ground. Adult moth 
is ash gray, sprinkled with blaek. 

Beneficial factors. — Toads, Paris green sprays, jarring onto a sheet, and 
burning of all rubbish under the trees. 

Climbing Cut-worms. Several species. Larva, naked, one inch to 
two inches long, changes under ground. Adult moths, one and one-half 
to two inches, gray and brown. 

Beneficial factors. Birds, toads, Paris green sprays, jarring on a sheet, 
burlap bands around the trees, hot water on the ground, and spading. 

Lime-tree Winter-moths {Hybernia tiharia). Larva, a span worm; 

head, red, with a Y mark: body, yellow, with blaek lines; feeding in Ma\ 
and June; Changes under ground. Male moth, rusty hull and spotted, 

hind wings paler, emerges in October and November. Female, wingless. 
Beneficial factors. — Birds, Paris green sprays, jarring the tree and gen- 
eral treatment as for canker- worms. 

White Eugonia [Eugonia subsignaria). Larva, dark brown, with red 
head and tip, eating in May. Moth, white, one and one-half inch. 
Beneficial factors. — Birds, spraying with Paris green. 

Apple-leaf Mineb {Tischeria malifoliella). Larva, small, pale green, 

with brown head. Moth, brown, spreads a quarter-inch : does little 
ilamage. 
Beneficial factors. -Burn all dead leaves. 

Apple-tree Case-beareb {Gole.oph.ora maUvorella). Larva, yellow, 
with blackhead, feeding on the under side and skeletonizing leaves, and 
into the buds ; changes on the tree. Moth, half an inch, white and brown- 
flying at night. 

B< neficial factors.— Birds, and Paris green sprays. 

Resplendent Shield-beareb i Asphidisca sph ndorifi n lla). Larva, 
yellow brown, with dark head, one-eighth inch, .Line to September 
Tiny moth, gold and silvery. 

Beneficial factors,— iBirds, parasitic Hies, and Paris green. 






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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



021 489 528 6 



Apple-leaf Bucculatrix (Bucculatrix pomifoliella). Larva, yellow 
green body, few hairs, brown head, one-half inch. Tiny moth, narrow 
wings, pale yellow and brown. 

Beneficial factors.— Birds, parasitic flies, oily emulsions sprayed or 
brushed on the twigs during winter. 

Codling Moth (Garpocapsa pomonella). Larva, head, brown; body, 
flesh color; bores up the core and out at one side of the apple. Moth, 
pale gray, with gold bands and brown spots, five-eighth of an inch. Eggs 
are laid on or near the fruit buds. 

Beneficial factors. — Ichneumon flies. Spray with Paris green after the 
blossoms fall and while the stem stands upright. Feed to pigs, or com- 
pletely destroy all fallen apples. Keep loose bark scraped off and 
burned. Wind old cloth, six inches wide, loosely around the trunk from 
June 1st to September 1st. Tie or tack it, and remove every ten days, 
killing all vermin hidden in or under it. 

Ash-gray Pinion (Lithophane antennata). Larva, pale green, with 
cream spots and bands ; bores in young apples in June, and changes under 
ground. Moth, ash gray, one and one-quarter inches. 

Beneficial factors. — Birds, toads, spading up the earth, hot water, and 
destroying fallen fruit. 

FLIES. 

Apple Maggot (Trypeta pominella). A footless, white grub, one-fifth 
inch long, eating in the fruit ; changes in the ground. Adult fly hi July ; 
body, black ; head and legs, red ; wings, white, black banded. 

Beneficial factors. — Destroy all fallen fruit. 

Apple Midge (Sciara mali). Grub, slender and glassy white, boring hi 
the flesh of the apple, and changing there. Adult, black above, with yel- 
low bands ; yellow below ; legs black. Does little damage. 

Beneficial factors.— Birds. Destroy fallen fruit. 



